Is Mick Carter leaving EastEnders? With Danny Dyer set to star in West End play where does that leave his character?
ACTOR Danny Dyer was an EastEnders' firm favourite from the moment he arrived in Albert Square.
Now, the 40-year-old actor has revealed he's leaving the soap for a second time – only this time to appear in a high-brow West End play. Here is the lowdown.
Why did Danny Dyer take a break from EastEnders in 2017?
In February 2017 The Sun Online exclusively reported that Danny Dyer had been forced to quit the soap in order to "sort his life out".
The actor had stopped filming after talks with show bosses and was expected to be away from filming for a number of weeks – with reports initially suggesting he could be absent until the summer.
Danny's character Mick Carter left Walford, after discovering his daughter Nancy has been involved in a car crash.
His surprising departure came as it was revealed he had been involved in a backstage feud with Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell – although Grant Mitchell actor Ross Kemp expressed support for the star.
It followed reports that Danny fell off wagon at the National Television Awards in 2017 after trying to quit booze in the new year.
The soap hardman returned to 'Enders in May 2017, but despite Mick's popularity with viewers, Danny was reportedly on his best behaviour, fearing for his job following a series of incidents.
However, on a break from filming at the start of August, Danny was filmed threatening to quit the show it an expletive-filled rant as he revealed he still hadn't put pen to paper on a new deal.
He also fired off a string of expletives on a video clip recorded as he chatted to fans.
"This takes up my life this does," he said.
"I ain’t signed yet. I’m meant to sign in October but I might elbow it."
Thankfully he didn't elbow it and went on to be involved in the tense heist storyline which saw Mick shot in his pub.
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Is Mick Carter leaving EastEnders again?
It has been revealed that Danny Dyer is trading in the Square for a series of high-brow plays for six weeks in 2019, where he'll be starring alongside Martin Freeman.
He'll be appearing in plays written by the legendary British writer, Harold Pinter. Pinter had a career spanning more than 50 years and penned productions including The Birthday Party and Betrayal.
And Danny, who has played Mick Carter since 2013, became a close friend and protege of Pinter after appearing in his debut production of Celebration in 2000 — his first play in 15 years.
“He needs to spend a considerable amount of time in rehearsals and on stage so it only makes sense to give him a break from filming.
“He’s a huge part of the show and viewers love him so obviously nobody wants to see him away for too long.
"But this is something he’s really passionate about.”
The plays run from January 31 to February 23, 2019, so we can expect to see a lot less of Mick later this year.